Shark Tank Season 16: Brittane Rowe’s “Hella Awkward”Captures Investor Attention
The latest episode of Shark Tank, which aired on March 14, 2025, featured an intriguing pitch from Brittane Rowe, who sought a substantial $200,000 for a 10% stake in her innovative card game, Hella Awkward. The game is designed to facilitate “awkward conversations,”aiming to help players break through barriers of discomfort and engage in meaningful dialogue.
Robert Herjavec’s Uncontested Offer
“I’m not even gonna negotiate with you. I’ll give you the $200,000 for 10%. I wanna go along for this ride,”Robert Herjavec asserted, presenting a straightforward offer that resonated with Brittane.
Unlike typical investment negotiations, Robert’s prompt agreement put him in direct competition with fellow investors Lori Greiner and Kevin O’Leary, both of whom recognized the appeal of the product but required a larger equity stake. Ultimately, Brittane opted for Robert’s favorable terms and gracefully declined the other offers.
Brittane’s Vision and Gameplay
During her demonstration, Brittane articulated the value of the Hella Awkward card game, which serves as a tool for individuals struggling with small talk and social anxiety. She described the game as a gateway to “genuine connections through hilariously unexpected conversations,”boasting a total of 140 questions across four distinct categories: relationships, dating, real talk, and sex.
“Hella Awkward throws you 140 hilarious and thought-provoking questions in four unique categories,”Brittane shared.
Players select a category, draw a card with a pointed question, and share their responses, with the option to use a “skip”card to avoid uncomfortable queries. This unique gameplay was put to the test as the Sharks participated in a round, leading to laughs and revealing insights.
Sales Growth and Market Potential
As the investors engaged with the game, curiosity arose regarding Brittane’s sales performance. She disclosed that Hella Awkward launched in mid-2021 and has since generated lifetime sales of $600,000.
Shark Mark Cuban requested a breakdown of annual sales, revealing the following growth trajectory: $90,000 in the first year, $110,000 the next, and a dramatic leap to $250,000 by the third year. This year, Brittane projected total sales of approximately $600,000.
Highlighting her strategic retail partnerships, she indicated that Hella Awkward is now available in 600 Walmart stores and continues to expand its reach.
“And then also this year we launched at Walmart. We’re in 600 stores currently and we’re about to expand to a thousand doors,”she revealed.
Production Costs and Future Plans
Addressing queries about pricing, Brittane shared that the retail price of Hella Awkward is $24.99, with production costs at just $2.80. An expansion pack featuring an additional 45 questions retails for $12.99 and costs under $1 to produce. Moreover, she introduced another game concept, Build-A-Bae, focused on dating.
Brittane’s backstory also resonated with the Sharks; she initially moved to New York for theatre acting but pivoted during the pandemic, leading to the game’s inception through creative discussions with her brother and his partner.
Investment and Closing Deal
When the Sharks learned of her projected profit—between $250,000 and $300,000—with over 50,000 boxes sold, the competition intensified. Kevin O’Leary offered $200,000 for 25% equity, while Robert enthusiastically matched his earlier proposal, further backing his commitment to Brittane’s vision.
“$200,000. 10%. Let’s not listen to the noise,”Robert advised her, emphasizing the value of his offer.
After weighing her options, Brittane accepted Robert’s deal, leaving the Tank on a high note, quite literally dancing her way out.
Catch the Latest Episodes
Shark Tank Season 16 continues to air new episodes every Friday at 8 PM ET exclusively on ABC, showcasing innovative entrepreneurs like Brittane who are reshaping the landscape of consumer engagement.